July 29 almost to the end of the world!

Sorry where was I?  .... after a delicious lunch and reluctantly leaving a gin tasting at Quinn’s, we piled into a zodiac to take us out to the small boat that would whisk us out past the most western point of mainland Ireland to the Blasket Islands, the most westerly scraps of land in Europe. The origin of the islands’ name is thought to come from the Norse word ‘brasker’, meaning a dangerous place. And there in lies a wee tale. Having travelled through Scotland, particularly the islands, and having been regaled with stories of Viking ‘settlement’ over half a millennium, it was interesting albeit not surprising to hear that the Vikings had a strong presence in Ireland in days gone by and that many place names, among other things, bear that heritage. 

Now an uninhabited group of islands, the Blasket islands were inhabited until 1953 by a completely Irish-speaking population, and today are part of the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking region - through which we have spent a lot of time travelling). In 1953 the inhabitants were evacuated by the government to the mainland (much like what happened at St Kilda and elsewhere at exactly the same time) purportedly because of the declining population and harsh nature of life on the island. 

But to the wonders of the region. We saw masses of seabirds and a special treat was spotting a small pod of the rarely seen Risso dolphins. One pair was mum and bub surfacing and diving together. They were beautiful to watch. One very large probably make put on a wee show for us - twisting and turning only to splash back into the water. They are very close to their close cousins, the larger whales. 

We’ve been travelling two beautiful peninsulas - Dingle and the Ring of Kerry with the Skellig Ring tacked on the very top of the peninsula. Magic scenery! Mighty outcrops and cliff of red-purple sandstone. 

This is the zodiac and captain to take us to our boat for the islands

Oh so fashionable! You have to smile - if you can get your chin over the ‘May West’

I managed to capture this Risso dolphin coming up for air

I managed to capture this Risso dolphin coming up for air

This is the sky over Greater Blasket island. This is the rugged weather side. We saw some spectacular skies. 

On the leeward side, are the remains of earlier settlement of 200 odd people. This little boat load had been on the island for the day. Would be wonderful. Reminded me of St Kilda.

Some of the buildings are being restored to encourage summer visitors. These are cafe plus accommodation (I think).

Cathedral rock on another of the islands. Jagged and inhospitable.

These are the cathedral doors!

Looking astern the water and sky seemed to blend one into the other. It was awesome with the watery sun reflecting off the water.

Cloud shadows over the hills and the beautiful red sandstone cliffs of the mainland

This is a small chunk of the red sandstone. Love that colour.

We came back to shore to see the finish of the annual regatta in traditional boats (whose names escape me)

This is the road out to the western tippy tip. Quite a rugged cliff we were hugging!

Rugged and beautiful on the way to the tip. These are a pair of fulmars resting on the wall. They are quiet gentle birds.